Ridge type ventilator



Filed July 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/vTv/v K. WHITAKERE HI IHH HH I. aHHWWMMM W 1% 1938. A. K. WHITAKER 2,127,099

RIDGE TYPE VENTILATOR Filed July 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANToN A.WHITAKER Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES 2.121.099 amen mavau'rma'roa Anton K. Whitaker, Cnyahoga Fails. Ohimauignor to The BurtManuiacturing Akron; Ohio, a corporation of Ohio I Application July 1,1936, Serial No. 88,395

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The present invention relates to long or ridge type ventilators forbuildings. A ventilator oi the ridge type has a number of advantagesover individual or unit ventilators as it gives uninterruptedventilation over the root or root section. whereas the unit type ofventilator concentrates ventilation at isolated spots and leavesintermediate areas unventilated. The ridge type ventilator is also moresightly than the unit type.

Ridge type ventilators have been known and used prior to the presentinvention, but earlier forms have had certain disadvantages andlimitations which the present invention overcomes. One of the advantagesof the ventilator shown and described herein is that outside currents ofair striking the ventilator are directed within the interior thereof andare conducted through the ventilator so that a suction or siphoningeffect is secured, increasing the efliciency of the ventilator. Afurther object of the invention is to provide for a vertically movingdamper which increases the efllcient length of the ventilator. Priorventilators of this type have been equipped with dampers which movelongitudinally as they are raised and lowered, thereby reducing the areaof the opening in the building. The mechanism for raising and loweringthe damper is also improved over previous designs.

Further objects of the ventilator are to improve upon the means forjoining ventilator sections so that a long ventilator may be built upfrom individual sections. In the event that longer installations arerequired that would prevent the operation of the damper by a singledevice, the ventilator has been designed so that it may be divided intooperative sections without breaking the symmetry of the installation.

Other objects and advantages are secured from the invention as will beapparent from the de-' 40 scription and drawings, and it will be seenthat changes and modifications may be made without altering theprinciples of the ventilator or changing its functions and purposes. 45In the drawings in which the best known or preferred form of theinvention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a unit of the ridge ventilator, one endbeing broken out to show the end closure and the other end being brokenout on the line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end' view looking into the unit fro the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section at the closed end of the ventilator on the line 3-4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the means oi joining or splicing two units, thesection being taken on the line 4-4 01' Fig. 5; FlFlgl. 5 is ahorizontal section on the line 5-4 of Fig. 6 is a section on the line6-6 of Fig. '7, 5 showing the partition which is used in splicing twosections of the ventilator with individual dampers; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 'I1'oi Fig. 6.

The ventilator is adapted to any form or shape of root, the support andattachment of the ventilator being changed to fit any type of rootencountered. I

In the form shown the ventilator, which is 15 formed in lengths orunits, is mounted upon two oppositely positioned strips shown at 2-2which are shaped to flt any roof construction to which the ventilator isadapted. These strips are located on opposite sides of the ventilationopening 20 3 leading from the interior of the building. At the end ofthe ventilator the metal may form the peak of the roof as shown at l.The inner edges of the strips 2 are bent upwardly to form the verticalflanges 5 upon which the ventilator is 25 supported. These flanges maybe braced at convenient intervals by horizontal braces I and archedbraces l.

Along the sides of the ventilator are arrang "l the two parallel andoppositely positioned wind or storm bands III which are formed of -sheetmetal with the central vertical. webs and inwardly inclined upper andlower edge portions 12 and M, respectively. The windband is supportedfrom the vertical flanges 5 by the rectangular straps l6 and inclinedbraces l'l which are secured by the bolts I8 whichalso form theattachments for the horizontal braces I. It will be noted that the loweredge of the flange i4 is spaced from the roof an appreciable distance 40over the entire length of the ventilator to provide a longitudinal windopening IS on either side of the ventilator. In this respect the pres-,ent type of ridge ventilator diii'ers from and presents markedadvantages over previous ventilators of this type as the construction issuch that currents of air from outside the building will enter and beconducted through the ventilator so as to create a suction or aspiratingefiect and thus increase its efiectiveness. The lower edge may bemaintained at the proper distance from the flanges 5 to permit the freeentrance of external air currents by spacer sleeves i 8 which arereceived over bolts l9 passing through the lower .edge of the windbandsand the vertical flanges. The windband is stiflened along the lower edgeby a reversely turned flange 23 and along the upper edge by a similarflange 2|.

The upper edges of the windbands are spaced apart along the top 01' theventilator at some distance above the opening 3 to form the longitudinaldischarge opening 24 and are braced by'the horizontal straps 25 and byinverted. arched straps 2i, whichlatter form a convenient upper limitorstop for the damper. The straps 25 form a convenient rest for a screen23, if such isto be employed, screws 23 passing through the upper edgeof the windband and into the edgestention and object to prevent aircurrents from the exterior entering the ventilator. This is contrary tothe principle and mode of opera-- tion of the present ventilator whichadmits the external currents of air in very substantial. quantities butguides and directs them afterthey enter the ventilator so as to increasethe.

efliciency of, the ventilator. For this purpose it will be observed thatcurrents of air entering the openings l5 are directed by the deflectors30 along the passages 32, from whence-they move upwardly along the innerwalls of the windbands and pass out through the opening 24 in thegeneral direction of the arrows marked A.

The upward movement of these currents will create a suction oraspirating effect upon the air moving upward through the opening 3, suchcurrents being noted by the arrows B. As these currents A and B meetaround the lower edges of the damper, the suction effect of the strongcurrents A will draw the air from the interior of the building upwardthrough the opening 3 and out of the ventilator. The baflies ordeflectors 30 also direct the incoming air currents away from theopening 3 and there is no down draft.

The damper is indicated by the numeral and is movable between its lowerposition, shown in dotted lines in.Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, where, it restsupon the upper edges of the vertical flanges 5 and closes the opening 3,and its extreme upper position against the braces 26 (shown in fulllines). It is moved to a greater or less extent by a chain or cord shownat 42. This damper is superior to other dampers used in .this type ofventilator because it moves in a vertical direction and does not shiftlongitudinally, being guided in its movement by rollers 44 attached tothe sides of the damper andv moving in vertical trackways 45 attached tothe underside of the edge portions I2 of the windbands and to the upperside of the deflec-- ing link 52 to the lower end of which the chain 42is attached. At one end of the damper, links 54- and 55 are connected tothe rail 5| and the link 52, respectively, and are pivoted at 56 to theinside faces of the flanges 5. A supplemental or idle link 53 isprovided at the other end of the damper. It will be seen that as thechain ,42 is pulled, the rails II are elevated and the damperraised,therolling' contact with the underside of the damper permitting it tomove in a vertical direction. The operation is easy and a long dampermember. may be moved. with little exertion, nor is there any tendencyfor the damper-operating mechanism to bind at any point.

Rain, snow or debris entering the ventilatory is intercepted directly bythe damper and directed toward the sides of the ventilator, pass-- ingout. onto the roof through the openings II. By this improvedconstruction it isnot necessary to provide a central ridge member in thetop of the ventilator to make the device weatherproof, as in prior formsof ventilators of this type, and consequently freer passage of air isallowed through the ventilator.

To make the ventilator weatherproof at the end, a closure piece'tll isprovided which flts around the windbands and is provided with ahorizontal flange 62 which extends over the opening 3 and is providedwith downwardly flaring skirts 64 which direct water into the openingl5. An upstanding flange 65 is provided at the side of the piece ill toprevent the overflow of water into the opening 3.

The ventilator which has been shown and described ismade in unit lengthswhich may be joined together. The several units are spliced end to endas-shown in Figs. 4 and 5. For this purpose the deflectors 30 on oneunitare stepped back from the end of the unit to permit telescoping ofthe units. This is shown at 66 in Fig. 5. The side strips 2 and thewindbands are overlapped and connected, the reversely bent reinforcingflanges being stepped back. A cover plate 61 is secured to and overlapsboth dampers. In the event that an assembly of these units is not toolong to permit the operation of the damper by a single mechanism,provision is made for joining the damper-operating mechanisms. In theform illustrated in Fig. 1, the section will be added to the left ofFig. 1, the end piece 60 being removed and the splice made at thatpoint. The added section will be provided with additional links 58, bar5| and rollers. A tying link, broken ofi and shown in dotted lines inFig. 1, connects the bar 5| with the corresponding bar on the nextadjacent section.

In the event the installation is too long to permit of the operation ofthe damper by a single operating device, or should separate dampercontrols be desired, it is necessary to provide a weatherproof joint atthe division line between two sections. Such a device is shown in Figs.6 and 7 and consists of a vertical wall lower edges of which are bentoutwardly to provide cover plates 'Il over the opening 3, extending fora suflicient distance to intercept rain between the ends of the dampers.Upright walls 12 prevent water from running off the plates into theopening and skirts I3 extend downwardly and overlap the side walls anddeflector strips.

The ventilator secures the maximum eflficiency .10, preferably formed ofa two-ply metal, the

from the wind, but is storm and weatherproof throughout. The baille ordeflector strip 80, in combination with the spaced windband, gives'a newand highly efllcient mode of operation. Rain or snow entering theventilator is deflected beneath the lower edge of the windband at thesides and ends and also at any division points between dampers. Thevertical movement of the damper reduces to a minimum the amount ofclosure required at the end zone of the ventilator. The mechanism forraising and lowering-the damper is simple and easy to operate. .In fact,the mechanism operates so easily that as many as four ten-foot lengthsmay be operated by a single chain. The weight of the damper is alwayssuflicient to close it when the chain is released. For flreproofness afusible link may be inserted in the chain.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ventilator of the ridge type adapted to be mountedover abuilding ventilation opening, a casing composed of two parallelwindbands spaced at their. upper edges to provide a free dischargeopening, walls within the casing on opposite sides of the buildingventilation opening, a damper located in the casing and movable towardand from the ventilation opening in a vertical line, said damper beingextended laterally to intercept rain entering the discharge opening andto direct it to the sides of the casing, the lower edges of the casingbeing spaced from the roof to permit free access of wind below theventilation opening, deflectors below the ventilation opening to directthe wind against the inner walls of the casing and upwardly past theventilation opening to the discharge opening, and means at the end ofthe casing to cover the ventilation opening sufiiciently to prevent theentrance of rain at that point.

2. A continuous ventilator of the ridge type adapted to be placed overan elongated ridge opening, comprising two spaced parallel stripsattached to the building at either side of a ridge opening, verticalwalls rising from the inner edges of said strips, vertical parallelstrips constituting storm bands located on opposite sides of the wallsand spaced therefrom, the storm bands being provided with upper andlower inwardly directed inclined edges, inclined deflector memberscarried on the vertical walls and forming air directing channels withthe lower edges of the storm bands, vertical end walls at the ends ofthe ventilator, a movable damper located over the ventilation openingand below the top of the storm bands, the ends of the damper beingclosely adjacent the end walls, and means to move the damper in a directvertical path.

I 3. A continuous ventilator of the ridge type adapted to be placed overan elongated ridge opening, comprising two spaced parallel stripsattached to the building at either side of a ridge opening, verticalwalls rising from the inner forming air directing channels with thelower edges of the storm bands, vertical end walls at the ends of theventilator, a movable damper located over the ventilation opening andbelow the top of the storm bands, the ends of the damper being closelyadjacent the end walls,

means to move the damper in a direct vertical path, and means tointercept rain and to prevent its admission into the ventilation openingat thev ends of the damper.

4. A continuous ventilator of the ridge type adapted to be placed overan elongated ridge opening, comprising two spaced parallel stripsattached to the building at either side'of a ridge opening, verticalwalls rising from the inner edges of said strips, vertical parallelstrips constituting storm bands located on opposite sides of the wallsand spaced therefrom, the storm bands being provided with upper andlower inwardly directed inclined edges, inclined deflector memberscarried on'the vertical walls and forming air directing channels withthe lower edges of the storm bands, vertical end walls at the ends ofthe ventilator, and a movable damper located over the ventilationopening and below the top of the storm bands.

5. In a continuous ventilator of the ridge type adapted to be placedover an elongated ventilation opening, comprising two spaced parallelstrips attached to the building at either side of the ridge opening,vertical parallel storm bands extending the length of the ventilator andspaced on opposite sides of the strips, end walls on the ventilator, amovable damper over the ventilation opening located between the stormbands and extending from end wall to end wall, and means to move thedamper in a direct vertical path.

6. In a continuous ventilator adapted to be placed over an elongatedopening, comprising spaced parallel strips on either side of theopening, vertical walls rising from the strips and defining an elongatedventilation opening, vertical parallel storm bands extending the lengthof the ventilator on either side of the walls and spaced therefrom,inturned edge portions on the storm bands defining the outlet of theventilator, and an elongated movable plate located in the space definedby the storm bands, the inturned edge portions and the upper edges ofthe vertical walls, said platebeing'adapted to operate as a damper andbeing of sufllcient width to intercept rain entering the outlet openingand prevent it from entering the ventilation opening in any position ofthe damper.

7. In a continuous ventilator adapted to be placed over an elongatedopening, comprising spaced parallel strips on either side of theopening, vertical walls rising from the inner edges of said strips anddefining an elongated ventilation opening, vertical parallel storm bandsextending the length of the ventilator on either side 01' the walls andspaced therefrom, inturned edge portions on the storm bands defining theoutlet of the ventilator, a vertically movable elongated plate locatedbetween the outlet opening and the ventilation opening and constitutinga damper, end walls on the ventilator, the ends of the damper lyingadjacent the end walls, and means to move the damper in a directvertical line.

8. A ventilator of the continuous ridge type adapted to be placed overan elongated building opening, comprising two parallel strips onopposite sides of the opening, vertical walls rising from the strips anddefining the ventilation opening, vertically arranged storm bands onopposite sides of the ventilation opening but spaced to provide passagesextending alongthe building between the lower edges of the storm bandsand walls and adapted to seat thereon in lowered position andinclineddeflectors on the-sides oi the walls located within the passagesand adapted to direct air 'currents which enter the ventilator irombelow along the inner surfaces of the storm from the strips and definingthe ventilation opening, vertically arrangedstorm bands on oppositesides of the ventilation opening but spacedto provide passages extendingalong the building between the, lower edges of the storm bands and theroof, inclined deflectors on the sides of the walls located within thepassages and adapted to direct air currents which. .enter the ventilatorfrom below along the inner surfaces of the storm bands and past theventilation opening to create an aspiratlng' eflect at theventilationopening,- and a movable plate between the storm bands 1constituting a damper.

. ANTON K. WHITAKER.

